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(No Model.) 14 Sheets-Sheet 1. I G. R. HERFURTH.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 556,749, Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

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No. 556,749. Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

(No Model.) I 14 Sheets-Sheet 4.

- G. R. HERPURTH.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MAGHINE.

No. 556,749. Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

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G. R. HERI'URTH STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

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G. R. HERFURTH.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MAGHINTE. No. 556,749. I Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

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G. R; HERFURTH. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

No, 556,749. Patent ed Mar. 24, 1896.

I I "lifl 1 0 G. R. HERFURTH. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 24

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14 Sheets8heet 9. G. R. HERPURTH.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 556,749. Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

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STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 556,749. Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

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(N0 Model.) 14 Sheets-8heet 11.

G. R HERPURTH. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

$10,556,749. Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

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(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 24

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G. R. HERPURTH. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 24, 18 96.

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G. R. HERPURTH. STRAIGHT KNIT-TING MACHINE.

N0. 556,749. Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

jX/gzflc f 1 fi Z 7' 1 @fifi Wt ML UNITED STATES PATENT Prion.

PAUL SGIILOSSMANN, OF SAME PLACE.

STRAIGHT-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,749, dated March 24, 1896. Application filed April 22, 1895. Serial No. 546,670. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUSTAV R. IIERFURTH,

a subject of the Emperor of Germany, but

having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Straight-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to a machine of the class known as straight-knitting machines for fabricating full-fashioned hosiery, underwear or other tubular fabrics; and it relates particularly to the general construction and arrangement of such a machine for the production of such fabrics.

The principal objects of my invention are, first, to provide a straight-knitting machine wherein hosiery, underwear or other fullfashioned tubular fabrics maybe knit, which machine is simple and durable in construction and efficient in operation; second, to provide a straight-knitting ma chine in which the camslides may be adjusted with relation to each other in respect to themovement thereof to operate the needles successively or simultaneously; third, to provide a straight-knitting machine in which the thread-guides are in linewith each other over the middle of the machine and move back and forth together; fourth, to provide a straight-knitting machine wherein on one side of the machine the mechanism for operating the thread-guides may be lockedto one of the thread-guide plates or carriers; fifth, to provide a straight-knitting machine in which the cam-slides on one side of the machine may be stopped and the needles on that side of the machine rendered inoperative; sixth, to provide in a straightknitting machine a mechanism for lifting one of the thread-guide bars out of engagement with one of the thread-guide plates or carriers and throwing the same into engagement with the other thread guide plate or carrier; seventh, to provide in a straight-knitting machine mechanism whereby certain needles of the machine may be thrown into or out of action to widen ornarrow the fabric knit on the machine; eighth, to provide a straightknltling machine wherein the needle slides or bars are supported at one end by longitudinally-movable and recessed fashioning-slides and adapted to rest in the recesses of said fashioning-slides when the needles are thrown 5 5 into action,and,ninth,to provide in a straightknitting machine mechanism for shifting these fashioning-slides in opposite directions, so as to increase or decrease the width of the elfective portion of the recesses therein and 63 thereby to increase or decrease the number of needles thrown into action.

My invention consists of a knit ting-machine constructed, arranged and adapted for operation in substantially the manner as herein- 65 after described and claimed.

The nature and general features of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming 79 part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a straight-knitting machine embodying the main features of my invention, illustrating the driving mechanism for the cam-slides and 7 5 thread-guides and the mechanism for shifting the fashioning-slides; Fig. 2 is a top or plan View of a straight-knitting machine, illustrating the needle-slides, needles carried thereby, the thread-guides, bars for shifting 80 the same, and the cam-latches for throwing one of the bars adapted to shift each set of guides alternately into and out of action. Fig. 3 is an enlarged top or plan View of one end of Fig. needles and the slides carrying the same when beginning the knitting of an article. Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of a-straight-knitting machine with the needles, needle-slides, needlebeds, and thread-guides removed, illustrating the fashioning-slides and the cams adapted to actuate, through suitable jacks, the needles and needle-slides. Fig. 5 is an end elevation, partly broken away, of the machine, looking from the power end, removed for clearness, eral features of my invention. Fig. 6 is an enlarged end elevation, partly in section, of the machine, looking from the power end thereof. view of the machine, illustrating the needleslides, jacks for operating the same, the cams illustrating the gen- 2, illustrating the position of the 85 certain portions being Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional 10o for operating the jacks, a pattern-chain and its accessories, a pawl operated by said pattern-chain to automatically operate mechanism for controllin g the shifting of the fashioning-slides on one side of the machine and for throwing out of action the other side thereof. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail side elevational view of a portion of the power end of the machine, partly sectioned and certain portions being removed to more clearly illustrate the mechanism for longitudinally shifting the fashioning-slides and for raising and lowering the same during the shifting in one direction, as in the operation of narrowing. Fig 9 is a perspective view illustrating in detail one of the cams actuating the jacks and also actuating the mechanism controlling the operation of the fashioning-slides on that side of the machine and for throwing the other side of the machine out of action. Fig. 10 is a detached perspective 'view of a portion of the needle-slides, the needle-bed, the fashioning-slides,'and an arm for raising and lowering said fashioning-slides. Fig. 11 is an enlarged plan view, partly sectioned, of the mechanism for looking out of action the devices for effecting the vertical and longitudinal movement of the fashioning-slides during certain intervals in the operation of knitting. Fig. 12 is a view illustrating in detail a portion of the pattern-chain illustrated in Fig. 11, said pattern-chainboing spread outupon a flat surface. Fig. 13 is a top-elevation'or plan view of the mechanism for controlling the oppositely-arranged 'pawls on either end of the machine, adapted to shift the fashioningslides longitudinally in opposite directions. Fig. 14 is a side elevation, enlarged, of one of the cam-latches for throwing one of the bars to shift each set of thread-guides alternately. Fig. 15 is a side elevation, enlarged, of one of the bars which shift each set of thread -guides alternately, illustrating the mechanism for locking said bar to one set of thread-guides during a certain interval of the knitting. Fig. 16 is a side elevation, enlarged, of an adjustable crank-arm adapted to operate the cam-slides and thread-guides on one side of the machine. Fig. 17 is a side view of Fig. 16, partly sectioned. illustrating the device for adjusting said crank-arm to a -bracket carried by the driving-shaft. Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the top of the machine, illustrating the position assumed by the needles and thread during the beginning of knitting, one thread only being brought into use. Fig. 19 is an isometrical view of the top of the machine, 'showingthe position assumed by the needles and threads during the operation of knitting and illustrating the use of two threads and the crossing thereof at the sides of the fabric after the article to be knit has been begun. Fig. 20 is a top plan or elevational view, greatly enlarged, of the exterior of a fabric adapted to be knitted upon the machine, showing the commencement of the knitting by the use of one thread and the continuation thereof by the use of two threads:

and Fig. 21 is a View, enlarged, of the fabric cut lengthwise and laid flat, illustrating the exterior of the fabric and the crossing of the threads at certain portions thereof.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the power-shaft and a the gear-Wheel secured thereto.

A represents the driving-shaft of the machine and a the gear-Wheel secured thereto and meshing with the gear-wheel a. At one end of the shaft A and loosely mounted thereon is a sleeve A which carries a crankarm a This sleeve A is notched, as at :0. and adapted to receive corresponding prongs a of a sleeve of, which rotates with the shaft A, being slotted to keys a thereof. This sleeve a is adapted to be moved laterally on the shaft A, through the slotted connection aforesaid, by means of a clutch-fork a. as illustrated in Figs. 5 and (S. This lateral movement of the sleeve a serves to bring its prongs a into and out of engagement with the notches a of the sleeve A and to there by lock or unlock the sleeve A to the shaft A On the other end of the shaft A is keyed )l otherwise secured a bracket A, which is provided with perforations a as illustrated :n Fig. 16.

Loosely mounted on the shaft A is a sleeve a oarryingacrank-arm a This crank-arm 0. carries a spring a and a pin a, normally pressed through a perforation in the arm w by said spring a The pin a is adapted to engage one of the perforations a of the bracket A to lock the crank-arm a in varying positions to said bracket, substantially as indicated in Figs. 16 and 17. From the cran karm a and crank-arm a extend the links H. each of which is pivoted to an arm 1), connected to a cam-slide C on either side of the machine. There may be on either side of the machine a series of these cam-slides C, corresponding in number to the number of articles adapted to be knitted at one operation of the machine, one cam-slide on each side being all that is required to knit each separate article. In the drawings is illustrated a machine adapted to knit two articles at one operation. and hence have been shown two of said slides on each side of the machine. The arm I) is connected to one of these slides, and the two slides O are connected by a plate 0, so that the two slides onone side move in unison when the shaft A operates the corresponding link -B and arm I) of that side. The camslides C are mounted by a dovetailed connection upon the side frames A and have a range of lateral motion on the said side frames A of the machine and carry at their upper ends a cam-plate C. This cam-plate C is provided with the three cam-surfaces c, a and 0 two of which, 0 and lie in the same plane and are at either end of the plate C. While the other, 0 is in a higher plane and between the throw-surfaces of the other cams c and substantially as illustrated in Figs. -i,-7 and 9.

The plate or'bar 0, connecting the slides O on one side of the machine, carries a rod D, bent, as at d and d, to conform to the slanting shape of the sides of the machine. The end (1 of this barD lies directly above two plates or bars 6 and 6, each connecting the threadguides E and E in pairs when two articles are to be knit on one machine. The threadguides E and E are each secured by screws or otherwise to a block E each bl0ckE being in dovetailed sliding engagement with a plate E which in turn is firmly supported upon the framework of the machine,to which it may be secured by screws or otherwise, all as illustrated in Figs. 1, 18 and 19. -One of these plates or bars a is provided with two pins 6 and c and the other plate or bar, 6, is pro vided with one pin 8. The end (1 of the rod D lies in the path of these pins, and when the rod D moves from left to right or right to left alternately it impinges upon the pin e or the pin c and this rod 1), if desired, is flattened at the point of impingement. This rod D is thus adapted to shift through the pin 6 the plate a and the guide E and through the pin :2 the plate e and the guide E. During certain intervals in the knitting of the article it is necessary for the end (1 of the rod D to be lifted out of the path of the pins (2 and c and for this reason the rod D is hinged, as at d, and provided with a spring (1, which normally tends to press the end 01 downward into the path of the pins. The mechanism for liftingthe end (1 against the tension of the spring (1 will be herein after fully explained. The pins e and e may, if desired, be squarethat is, present to the rod D a flat surfacet0 insure greater frictional contact between the said pins and rod, as will be readily understood from Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

On the other side of the machine the plate or bar 0, which connects the slides O, carries a rod D, bent, as at (Z and d, to conform to the slanting shape of the sides of the machine, and its end (1 lies in the pat-h of the pins 6 e and a so that when the rod D travels from left to right or right to left it impinges on either pin e or e, and during heel and toe knitting it is locked to the other pin, e by the following mechanism: Referring to Figs. 6 and 15, this rod D carries at its end d a sleeve 2 provided with a slot (1 andsecured to the rod 1) by a screw or pin (2 passing through the slot d, thus allowing a sliding motion of the sleeve upon the rod D. The sleeve (1 carries a hookd, adapted, when the sleeve is shifted toward the end of the rod D, to engage a pin e 'on the plate or bar 6' and to lock the rod D to said pin. The sleeve (i also carries the two upright pins (1 between which is located the end f of aha-r f, which is bent, as at f as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 15. This bar fis secured to a shaft f operated by a crank-arm f slotted, as at f,

to the vertical rod f sliding in the guides f. This rod f is slotted, as at f", to a bell-crank lever f which in turn is slotted, as at f, to a pawl F, pivoted to a bracket f of the frame A and adapted to be operated by a toothed disk or wheel G, arranged on a shaft g at right angles to the driving-shaft A, in a manner to be hereinafter more fully explained. The back-and-forth movement of this pawl F is transformed into a vertical or up-and-down movement of the sliding rod f, and this movement of the rod f in turn through the crankrarm f and the shaft f operates the bar f to slide the sleeve (1 on the rod D, all as indicated in full and dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 15. By this mechanism the rod D, through the sleeve and hook, may be locked or unlocked to the pin e The pawl F is bent at right angles, as at'F, and carries the clutch-fork a", which is adapted to shift the sleeve 0. into and out of engagement with the sleeve A carrying the crank-arm a as fully illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings.

The rod D is also hinged, as at (1 and carries above the hinge a sleeve 7, similar in construction and arrangement to the sleeve d* that is to say, it is slotted to the rod D and on. This sleeve 71. is provided with the two upright pins h, within which the end 71. of a curved arm 72. is adapted to rest. This curved arm h is secured at its other end to the shaft and when the said shaft is oscillated by the mechanism hereinabove mentioned the arm it will shift the sleeve up and down on the rod 1), as illustrated in full and dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 6 of the drawings. Directly beneath the rod D and under the sleeve 72,

full lines in Fig. 6, is arranged a plate H, screwed or otherwise secured to the frame of the machine, and on this plate H are arranged cam-latches h as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 14. Each cam-latch is pivoted, as at h, to the side of said plate H, and its free end h is straight and normally supported above the face of the plate H by means of a spring h. Below the point of pivotal support h is a lug h, integral with the latch 1?. On the side of the plate H is also secured a spring h, the free end of which extends above the lug h of the latch h When the bar 1) is shifted from one end of the machine- -as, for instance, from left to right-the sleeve h, if it is in the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 6, will lie in the path of the latch 71, and will impinge first upon its cam-surface h and be lifted thereby, the bar D, being also raised, moving on its hinge d -until the sleeve rests on the straight end 717. The rod and sleeve then traverse the latch untilthe sleeve reaches the extreme end of the latch, which is supported by the stop-pin h securedto the side of the plate H. When this rod and sleeve clear the latch h the spring h throws the latch over and the has a range of up-and-down movement therewhen in its normal position, as indicated by lug h raises the spring h The spring h then returns the latch 72. into its normal po- ,ment with the cam-latches 72 sition, which is the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 14. r The latch raises the'rod D" as described, sufiieiently to permit its end d to clear the pins eie", and a", so that said end d unless locked to the pin e by the mechanism hereinbefore described, will in its travelfrom left to right'rest behind the pin 6 and in its travel from right to left will rest behind the pin a. The rod D thus shifts alternately the plate e and its thread-guide, E

and the plate e and its thread-guide E- When:

the rod D is shifted from right to left the sleeve h is not raised by the latch, but abuts against the curved face it of the end h of the latch h and throws the latch over, as shown in I dotted lines in Fig. la. The guides Eand E are substantially triangular in cross-section and are each provided with a downwardly projecting edge E which, when each guide is moved, impinges against the latches of the needles and opens the same during certain intervalsofthe knitting operation, or in the instance of hosiery at the beginning of the fabrication thereof, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 18.

WVhen the bar D through the sleeve (i and hook (Z is locked to thepin casts-hereinafter described, the slide f, through the arm f and I theshaft f will operate the'arm k and throw the sleeve h into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 -that is to say, out of aligntion the end of the bar D is not raised by the cam-latches. \Vhen the bar D is unlocked from the pin 6 the sleeve h is shifted back 7 into the position shown in full lines in Fig. G,when the cam-latches b will operate against the sleeve h, as hereinbefore described, and raise the end of the bar D.

From the slide f extends an arm 2', the free end of which lies above the arm 1' of a sectorlever '5 which is pivoted upon a stud t at the end of the plate H, resting immediately under the arm D and secured to the main frame of the machine. This sector-lever '6 meshes with a sector-gear i secured to a shaft 2', which in turn carries a plate i resting against the under surface of the hinged end 01 of the bar D. When new the slide f is depressed the arm 2' will impinge upon the sector-lever and through the sector-gear and shaft the plate '6 will be elevated into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, and the end d of the bar D will be elevated against the tension of the spring c1 out of the path of the pinse and e. As before explained, the depression of this slide f 6 serves to lock the opposite bar D to the pin c and hence it follows that when the bar D is locked to the pin 6 the bar D is lifted out of the path of the pins 6 and e and also out of the path of the end (1 of the bar D.

The plate 17 extends longitudinally along the side of the machine throughout the length of travel of the bar D, so that no matter Insuch posicessed, as at what the position of the bar D with respect to its travel the plate i rests below the end (1 and is adapted to raise the same when the slide 3 is depressed. raised the plate 17 is returned to its normal position, (indicated by thefull lines in Fig. 6,) and the end 62 of the bar D is returned into the path of the spring (1 On either-side of the machine below the plates H and Hare arranged the needle-beds J. These beds are channeled or grooved, as at 3', presenting a rack-like appearance, and in these grooves or channels are placed the needie-slides K. K has a longitudinal movement in the channel j, and also a vertical movement therein.

The needle-beds J also carry at their ends the I the needles Z,'carried by the needle-slides K.

are adapted to move.

Each needle-slide K is normally held down in the groove or channel j of the needle-bed by a spring I a, secured to the plate 11 or II", the free endof the spring being bent into substantially a V shape, as at and adapted, I

when theneedle is not thrown into action, to

rest in a corresponding notch 15 in the top surface of. the needle-slide K, substantially as illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and l0, and to \Vhcn 'the slide f is Each individual needle-slide thereby lock the needle-slide and prevent its movement longitudinally in the groove 01- channel 7.

Referring to Fig. 7', the forward end of each needleslide K is beveled, as at 70, and re- In the recess 20- is located the bent end P of the latch-needles Z, which needles are carried and directly operated by the needle-slides K. At the rear end of each needle-slide is provided a slotor recess is, in which the upper end of a jack-lever M is adapted to fit. These levers M or jacks consist of thin fiat bars or plates on, pinned or pivoted, as at m, in a rack-like bracket or extension m of the downward extension j of the needle-bed J. These jacks are arranged in line with the cam-plate O, the point of pivotal support m of the jacks lying between the upper cam-surface, c and the lower cam-surfaces, c and c and arranged so that the cam-surface c or 0 will throw the lower free end of each jack inward and the upper end of each jack outward, while the upper cam-surface, o throws the upper end of each jack inward and the lower end outward.

The movement of the jacks m by the cam 0? serves to throw forward the needles Z through the needle-slides K, substantially as shown in Fig. 7, while the movement of the cams c and 0 serves to retract the needles and needle-slides, substantially as shown in Fi 6.

The extreme free ends of the needle-slides rest or are supported by fashioning-slides p and 10 on either side of the machine in the following manner:

Referring to Figs. 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10, a

TOO

IIO

frame 12 carries on either side the two fashioning-slides and p',which are movable longitudinally with respect to each other in a frame n At one end of the machine one of the slides-as, for instance, p-is provided with a pin 11*, adapted to fit in a slot p of a bracket-arm p and to secure the slideto said bracket. At the other end of the machine the other fashioning-slide p is similarly connected to a similar bracket or arm 1f". One or both of these slides pand 1) maybe recessed, as at p, as illustrated in Fig. 10, to a width corresponding to that of the entire number of needle-slides K combined. Amachine has been illustrated wherein two articles are to be knit simultaneously, and hence both slides 17 and p are illustrated as recessed in Fig. 4, but it is to be understood, as will be apparent from the description of the operation herein after given, that if the machine were adapted to knit but one article only one of thesefashioning-slides need be recessed. When all the needles and needle'slides are in operative position the ends of the needle-slides rest in the recessed portion p of theslides, and when the needles and needle-slides are out of operative position the end 1 of the needle-slides rest on the upper edge of the slides. By shifting the slides 10 and p longitudinally with respect to each other the number of needles resting in the recessed portion thereof may be increased for widening the fabric or decreased for narrowing the fabric. The shifting longitudinally of these slides 11 and p is accomplished as follows:

Referring to Figs. 1, 4, 6, 7, and 8, it will be seen that the bracket-armsp and the bracketarms 12 are secured to sleeves p adapted to slide longitudinally on short fixed shafts p", secured to the end frames A. Each sleeve 11 carries on its under surface two toothed racks p and p, the teeth 19 and p of which are oppositely arranged with respect to each other. Below one of the racks p" is placed a pawl vgwhich projects from a sleeve mounted upon the shaft r having a bearing in an arm 8, carried by the shaft 8'', having a bearing in the bracket 7' secured to one of the end frames A. The other endof the shaft 3 is secured to an angle-arm 7- the lower end of which is provided with a roller 0", normally resting upon theplain periphery of the wheel O, back of the flange 0 thereof. In the plain periphery of this wheel 0 is cut a step-like recess 0 into which the roller 1 is adapted to fall during the revolution of the wheel 0. This movement of the roller r is transmitted through the arm 2' to the shaft s,which serves through the arm 5 and shaft 2' to thrust the pawl 7' against the teeth of the rack 19". One revolution of the wheel 0 will thus throw the pawl into and out of engagement with the rack 12" to advance the sleeve p one tooth of said rack. This movement is transferred to the other end of the machine to a similar arm r, operating a similar rack p of the sleeve 1),

by means of a. rod 1', as illustrated in Fig. l.

This movement of the sleeves 11 serves to draw out the slides 12 and 1'), so that the recessed portion is gradually widened, thus permittin g the needle-slides to drop down one by one into said recess to thus widen the fabric by bringing more and more needles into operation.

To narrow the fabric it is necessary first to lower the frame 11 and slides 19 and 13 carried therein below the normal position of the ends of the needle-slidesthat is, when the same rest upon the jacks-and in this lowered position to shift the slides inward, so as to decrease the width of the recess into which the ends of the needle-bars will fall when the frame and slides are raised to their normal position.

As the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 to 17, inclusive, is particularly adapted for the knitting of hosiery, and since in the knitting of hosiery it is necessary to narrow and widen at one side of the machine, as in the construction of the heel portion, while the other side of the machine is idle, there is provided the following mechanism by means of which the slides 1) and pon one side of the machine may be shifted to decrease the width of the recess 10 without interfering with the ends of the needle-slides:

On one side of the machine (represented in Fig. (i as being the left-hand side) is placed a shaft N, extending from one end to the other of the machine, having its bearing in the end frames A. One or both ends it of this shaft N is rectangular in shape, and to this rectangular end is secured a handle a. The rear ends of the needle-slides K are supported in the movable frame 12 which is mounted, as shown in Fig. 10, by screwing or otherwise securing the ends of the frame 12 upon the ends of the arms or levers at, pivoted, as at if, in the end frames A. When the handle a is turned by hand into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the rectangular end n of the shaft N, which is arranged as to its longer axis at right angles to the handle n, presents its smaller width to the arms n thus permitting the frame 12. and the fashioningslides 19 and p to be depressed below the inner ends of the needle-slides K, which are supported on the jacks m, and thus permits the shifting of the slides p and 12 without impinging against the needle-slides. It is also necessary when narrowing on the other side of the'machine (represented to be the righthand side in Fig. (3) that the frame il be lowcred, the slides shifted inward to decrease the width of the recess in which the ends of the operative slides and needles are to rest, and the frame n then raised to throw all the slides, except those carrying the necessary operative needles, out of engagement with the jacks. This is accomplished in the following manner:

Referring now to Figs. (5, h and 1 l, beneath the pivoted arms 12, which support the frame 11 on which the ends of the needle-slides rest, is placed a shaft N, having similar bearings in the frames A as the shaft N. One or both ends n of this shaft N is trapezoidal in shape, and to one end is secured a crank-arm a which carries a pin a", working in a slot n of the vertically-moving shaft 11. The lower end of this shaft 12 is slotted, as at 11 and into this slot extends one end of a bell-crank a, the other end of said lever 01. being provided with a roller a, resting upon the periphery of the wheel 0, secured to the driving-shaft A and rotating therewith. On the periphery of the wheel 0 is placed a flange o, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 8, and this flange 0, when the wheel 0 rotates, is adapted to raise and the plain periphery to lower the roller n, to thereby raise and lower the shaft 71 and through the crank-arm n and shaft 12 to lower or raise the arms a carrying the frame 71 and slides 11 and p, upon which the ends of the needle-slides K rest.

At the same instant that the frame a and the slides 17 and p are lowered it is necessary to shift the latter inwardly to lessen the width of the recess in which the ends of the needleslides carrying the operative needles are adapted to rest. This is accomplished in the follow ng manner: Below the other rack 19 and mlapted to shift the same in the direction indicated by the arrow in full lines in Fig. 8 is provided a pawl '1", which is carried by the sleeve mounted on the shaft r On the other side of the sleeve, upon shaft o' that is, diametrically opposite-is a projecting finger .9 by means of which the sleeve of the shaft '1 may be oscillated upon the shaft 7' to pre sent either pawl r or r to the teeth 13 or p of the rack p or 1). As illustrated in Fig. 8, the pawl r is presented to the teeth 19 of the rack 19, and will therefore shift the sleeve 40 p inward one tooth on either side of the mechine by means of the roller '7', as hereinbefore fully explained. The mechanism for operating the finger s to oscillate the sleeve is illustrated in Figs. 1, 6 and 13. On the face of the wheel G projects a rim or flange t, which extends approximately over one-half the face of said wheel. flange t rests a roller t, secured to the end of the arm 15*, which is pivoted at its other end, as at i to one end of a pivoted lever 15. To the same end of the lever is secured a bracket-arm t provided with pins i between which rests the finger 8 which oscillates the sleeve. To the other end of the lever tis secured one end of a rod or shaft 25 extending across the machine from end to end and carrying at its free end a bracket-arm 15 having a forked extension surrounding the finger s of the sleeve on the opposite side of the machine. A spring 15 secured at oneend to the end frame A and at the other end to the rod t serves to press the roller 25 against the face of the wheel G. If now the wheel G rotates, the roller 15 will travel alternately over the plain face of the wheel and the flange thereof, thus shifting the lever 16 in and out, and thereby, through the connections above In the path-of this.

described, oscillating the sleeve, through the finger s to present either the pawl r to its toothed rack 19 or the pawl r to the toothed rack 17. As this flange extends upon half the surface of the wheel G, the roller z. will for half the revolution of the wheel G travel on the flange and the other half of the revolution of the wheel G on the plain face of said wheel.

As hereinbefore remarked, the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 to 1'7, inclusive, is particularly adapted for the knitting of hosiery, and it may be further remarked that the retation of the wheel G takes place only when the heel of the stocking is to be knit, for in such heel it is necessary to gradually narrow for a certain number of courses and then to widen in the same mannerfor the same number of courses. The teeth 9 on one half of the circumference of the wheel G and opposite the flange trepresent, therefore, the number of courses knit during which. the narrowing takes place, while the teeth on the opposite half of the circumference represent an equal number of courses during which widening takes place.

The movement of the wheel G is controlled by the following mechanism: Resting 011 the circumference of the wheel and traveling idle on a blank space 9* of two teeth thereof is a pawl u, as illustrated in Fig. 7. This pawl u is provided with a slot u/ at its lower end in which is located a pin 1& carried on one end of a lever u pivoted upon the end frame A. The free end M4 of the lever 10 is normally pressed upward against a stop-pin n on the frame A- by means of a spring 11. The free end of the lever a is located in the path of a dog or lug 10 carried by one of the cam-slides C on the right-hand side of the machine, substantially as shown in Fig. 9, so that the movement of this plate back and forth will depress the free end H4 of the lever 'ZL-S against the tension of the spring a and thereby throw the pawl u upward for a distance of one tooth of the wheel G. During the operation of straight knitting the wheel G is in the position indicated in Fig. 7, and the pawl u rides idle on the blank portion'g of the wheel G.

When, however, the heel portion is to be knit a pattern-chain V, which may be connected with the machine in any well-known manner and operated by any well-known means, presents a projection v under the slotted end 11 of the pawl u, elevating the pawl u a distance of three teeth, and thus advancing the pawl over the blank portion g and into engagement with a tooth of the wheel G and rotating the same one tooth. The projection v is then carried by the pattern-chain V past the slotted end '11, of the pawl u, and which pawl immediately drops backward a distance of three teeth, resting in a tooth below the blank portion 9 of the wheel G. The movement of the cam-slide G will thereafter, through the dog a and the lever 1L3, advance the pawl 11. one tooth at a time, thus rotating the wheel 

